Automatic marketing system

ABSTRACT

In a self service store, sales display fixtures are provided with means for sensing the weight of articles supported thereon, while card readers are associated with the fixtures to identify customers selecting articles therefrom. Data processing equipment scans the weight sensing means and the card readers while customers are shopping, and upon completion thereof, provides each customer with a printed invoice of the articles selected and the cost of the articles.

United States Patent [191 Weir 1 51 Feb. 13, 1973 s41 AUTOMATICMARKETING SYSTEM 3,426,326 2/1969 GOldSICln ..340/1s3 2,661,682 12 1953s d .340 147 A [75] sm'ley Sama Clara 2,919,851 1l1960 .JlZ6/l A [73]Ass1gnee: FMC Corporation, San Jose, Calif. FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [22] May 1971 l,2l8,963 1/1971 Great Britain ..340/147 A[21] Appl. No.: 140,620

Primary Examiner-Thomas A. Robinson Related US. Application DataAttorney-F. W. Anderson et al.

[63] glgigintzlzulzlton of Ser. No. 825,260, May 16, I969, [57] ABSTRACTIn a self service store, sales display fixtures are pro- 52 u.s.c1...235/61.9 R, .l86/l R, 340 147 A, vided with means for sensing theWeight of articles 235/61] R supported thereon, while card readers areassociated 511 1m. 01. ..G06r 3/00, E04h 3/04 gs ggg i i ldermify f r ifgfi fit 581 Field 6: Search ..l86/1 R, 1 A, 1 B; 235/91 L, h M P Z 5 d cwe1g t SGl'lSlllg means an t car rear ers W l6 235/619 customers areshoppmg, and upon completlon thereof, provides each customer with aprinted invoice of the [56] R f C d articles selected and the cost ofthe articles.

eerences ite 12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures UNlTED STATES PATENTS3,541,309 11/1970 Cutter ..186/] B DISPLAYER SCALE CARD READER gDISPLAYER scALE BOTTLE RACK 1 g I I msPLAYER scALE NsTRucTIoN DISPLAYERSCAL'EZZ UGHT I25 90 DISPLAYER SCALE; 222g l 2 5 MULTIPLEXER 130 D1SPLAYER scAL iz 335%? E1 -5511'5'5'1 PP- coNvERTER 11g CHECK-IN CARD HDISPENSER '2 MINI-COMPUTER oN-LINE STORAGE CHECK OUT CARD AND COMPARATORRECLAI MER NUMERICAL ARTICLE DISPLAY 23%, DIRECTORY l3 um l 3 6 PRINTINGo TERMINALS -j ,138

DATA ,140

----14----- DATA I39 I 1 14: i 1 f l 1 DISK DISK STORAGE TRANSMISSIONTORAGE I PACKS n Z CONTROL H CONTROL m I I 1 I42 I 1 l 4 I 1 1 l l gemPRINTER CONTROL LINE 112 1 PUNCH KEYBOARD UNIT L92 PRINTER I l I46 141 ll l CENTRAL 52 l PRocEssoR 1 l l PATENTEU B 31975 3,716 697 SHEET 10F 6DISPLAYER SCALE L22 OARD READER 9 s DISPLAYER SCALE a BOTTLE RACK I 2 IDISPLAYER SCALE I I INSTRUCTION DISPLAYER SCALFZZ LIGHT 90 DISPLAYERSCALE READER 2 5 N Iu I I I E x E o 1Q A DISPLAYER SCALE g gg'g lz?f'f'f -jf' 2i I24 CONVERTER 3 4 CHECK-IN cARD J l DISPENSER LMINI-COMPUTER ON-LINE STORAGE RECLAIMER 22 l NUMERICAL STORE ARTICLEDISPLAY 4M- CONTROL DIRECTORY L31 UNIT PRINTING TERMINALS 1 l ,.l38 DATA"I40 PHONE r- T T T T T T T T T T T T T T L T: DATA 39 I I44 I43 PHONE IT DISK STORAGE DISK STORAGE TRANSMISSION PACKS DRIVE CONTROL I CONTROL LE? I l I 4 I CARD PRINTER CONTROL LINE E2 READ KEYBOARD UNIT I45 PRINTERPUNCH J (I48 I47} 1 INVENTOR.

I STANLEY M. wEIR I CENTRAL $2 I PROcEssOR I ATTORN EYS PATENTED3.716.697

SHEET 2 OF 6 INVENTOR. STANLEY M. WEIR ATTORNEYS PATENE FEB 1 3197sSHEET 3 OF 6 INVENTOR. STANLEY M. WEIR BY j W W ATTORNEY:

' PATENTEDFEBUIQYS SHEET 5 OF 6 FIG.7

"' INVENTOR.

STANLEY M.WEIR

FIG. 8

ATTORNEYS PATENTJEDFEBI 31915 1 3,716,697 SHEET 6 BF 6 Vv g; H6 H5 n71?ATTORNEYS us ue FIG,

AUTOMATIC MARKETING SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Thisapplication is a continuation of my copending application Ser. No.825,260 filed in the United States Patent Office on May 16, i969 and nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 'customers bill is tabulated. Often there isa line of customers waiting at the check-out stand and this delay causesan inconvenience to the customer. Furthermore, it is necessary to unloadthe customer's shopping cart while the checker rings up the itemsselected and it is frequently necessary to price mark each article, toenable the checker to see the prices when ringing up the items.

Another known type of automatic store provides for automatic chargingbut, in this type of store, individual articles of merchandise areconfined within small compartments. Access to these compartments isobtained by inserting coins or credit cards into slots and the customerdoes not have an opportunity to pick up and inspect the merchandisebefore being charged for it.

A further known type of automatic store provides for sale by sample in ashowroom wherein orders are filled with articles from a stock room whilethe customers bill is being tabulated. This system does not provide thecustomer with an opportunity to inspect-the actual articles beingpurchased and there is frequently a delay as the articles are suppliedfrom the stock room.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Weight sensing means detect articles liftedfrom display fixtures by customers who are identified by a card insertedinto acard reader. Data processing equipment scans the weight sensingmeans and card readers to provide each customer with a printed invoiceof the articles selected when the customer completes shopping. Thus,there are no time-consuming delays at a checkout stand because it isunnecessary for a shopping cart to be emptied and for a checker to ringup each item selected by the customer. The customer has free access tohandle and inspect articles while making a selection, and may returnitems to the display shelf without being charged for them, since it isonly the weight differential between the time a customer's card isinserted into a card reader and the time the card is removed from thecard reader that is significant in detecting the articles selected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a block diagram of anautomatic marketing system embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a selfservice store embodying the systemshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a store fixture modified in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of a bottle rack holder.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a bag holder.

FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of an elongated article hanger.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a freezer unit, taken on line 9--9 of FIG.2.

FIG. 10 is a section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a section through a modified form of displayer scale whichutilizes load cells.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Looking now at FIG. 2, a store10 is shown wherein an automatic marketing system has been installed inaccordance with the present invention. An entrance door 12 and an exitdoor 14 are provided at one end of the store and a passageway 16 leadsfrom the entrance door to a check-in card dispenser 18. This dispenserissues a rectangular plastic card, about 2 by 3 inches in size, to eachcustomer entering the store, and each card bears machine language toidentify the customer. Such machine language could be in the form ofeither holes punched in the cards or permanent magnets imbedded thereinwhich would have a unique characteristic upon scanning. Built within thecard dispenser is a card reader which reads each card as it is dispensedand transfers the information to a mini-computer which will later bedescribed.

Positioned alongside the check-in card dispenser 18 are a check out cardreclaimer 20 and printing terminals 22 of data processing equipment. Thecard reclaimer receiver the shoppers identification card upon completionof shopping and a card reader in the reclaimer reads the card andnotifies the data processing equipment that the card has been returned.A complete invoice of all the purchases made by the shopper is preparedby the data processing equipment and typed out by the printingterminals. Behind the card dispenser and reclaimer is a cashiers chair24 in which a cashier may be seated. An exit passage 25 extendsalongside of the card reclaimer and the cashiers chair but is separatedby a divider rail from passageway 16.

Spaced inward along entrance passage 16 from the card dispenser 18 is aseries of bottle rack holders 26 where customers can return emptybottles and receive credit for them. On the opposite side of the passagefrom the bottle rack holders is a line of shopping carts 28 thatcustomers use for carrying articles selected in self-service fashionwithin the market.

Market display fixtures include meat display cases 30, 31 and 32 thatextend rearward along one side of the market. Refrigerated shelves 33and 34, used for dairy products and beverages, are positioned at theback of the market along with cooler shelves 35 and 36 that containproduce, as does counter 37. Among the interior fixtures arerefrigerator cases 38, 39 and 40 that contain frozen foods, whileshelving fixtures 41, 42 and 43 hold can goods and packaged articles.Dispensing stands 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49 are provided for dispensinglarge bulk articles such as sacks of flour, fertilizer and pet food.

The general appearance of these store fixtures which display merchandisein accordance with this automatic marketing system is nearly the same asthose currently used in supermarkets. Among the noticeable differencesare the rows of shelving, divided into short segments of from three tofour feet by shelf dividers, and a card reader located adjacent eachsegmented bank of shelves. 7

A typical shelf display stand 50, shown in FIG. 3, includes a base 51that supports a column member 52 and a base 53 that supports a columnmember 54. A panel 55 extends between the column members to form anintegral structure. The column members are slotted at various elevationsto receive brackets 56a and 56b (FIG. and these brackets are joinedtogether by transverse stiffeners 57a, 57b and 57c, as shown in FIG. 5.The brackets and transverse stiffeners support shelving 58 that extendsbetween the brackets, as shown in FIG. 4. This portion of the shelfdisplay stand is conventional store fixture equipment.

Mounted on the shelving 58 are displayer scales 59 and 71 (FIGS. 3 and4) that distinguish the shelf display stand from conventional storefixtures. These displayer-scales support articles of merchandise inselfservice, sales-display positions and translate weight changes of thearticles supported into changes in voltage in an electrical circuitwhich will later be described.

Displayer scale 59 includes a platform 60 having downwardly turned sideedges 61, 62, 63 and 64, as shown in FIGS; 4 and 5. The platform isbraced transversely between side edges 62 and 64 by channelshapedstiffeners 65 and 66. A cantilever beam 67 is fastened, as by bolts, tothe lower portion of stiffener 65 adjacent side edge 62 and projectsoutwardly towards the corner of the platform. This cantilever beam ismade of resilient metal, and a cap 68 is fastened to the outer endthereof. The cap bears upon a half-spherical button 69, which is fixedto the shelving 58, and the cap is indented to fit around the outer sideof the button but relieved inwardly thereof to allow for movement whenthe cantilever beam deflects. Similar cantilever beam supports areprovided as the other three corners of the platform, said beams beingconnected respectively to the opposite end of stifiener 65 and to eachend of stiffener 66. A strain gage 70 is attached to the upper surfaceof cantilever beam 67, and similar strain gages are attached to theother cantilever beams. These strain gages are connected in anelectrical bridge circuit so that weight changes on the platform can bedetermined by the four strain gages which measure the deflection in thecantilever beams. Such strain gages are standard commercial items thatcan be obtained from ,BLH Electronics, Inc. of Waltham, Mass.

It should be noted that the side edge 63, shown in FIG. 4, is spacedabove the upper surface of shelving 58 by adistance G, when the platform60 is man unloaded condition. The distance G is equivalent to adeflection within the elastic limit of each cantilever beam and thus,should the platform become overloaded, the side edges will contact theshelving before the cantilever beams are permanently deformed.

Displayer scale 71 is positioned beside displayer scale 59 on shelving58 and is of different construction than scale 59. A platform 72 havingdownwardly turned side edges'is'supported intermediate the side edges bya single channel-shaped stiffener 73, and cantilever beams 74 and 75 aresecured to and project outwardly in opposite directions from one end ofthe stiffener towards the rear corners of the platform. The outermostend of beam 74 is bent to form a notch 76 which rests upon an upperknife edge of a rocker 77. The bottom surface of the rocker is roundedto provide for rocking movement and a pin projecting from the rockerfits through an opening in the shelving to prevent the rocker fromtraveling with the rocking movement. A notch 78 is formed in theoutermost end of beam 75 and receives the knife edge of a rocker 79 thatis pivotably coupled to the shelving. A strain gage 80 is attached tocantilever beam 74 and a strain gage 81 is attached to cantilever beam75. Similar cantilever beams, rockers and strain gages are provided atthe forward end of stiffener 73 so that the displayer scale has a fourpoint support, and the rockers enable a substantial deflection of thecantilever beams without changing the relative length between the knifeedges of the rockers and the location of the strain gages.

When merchandise is stacker on the displayer scales and two scales arepositioned adjacent to each other, as are displayer scales 59 and 71shown in FIG. 3, there is a tendency for merchandise on one displayerscale to contact merchandise on the other displayer scale or panel 55and thus, inaccurate weight readings result. To remedy this condition,each displayer scale platform may be enclosed, as shown on the shelfbelow scale 71, where shelf dividers 82 and 83 shut in the sides and aconnecting panel 84 covers the back.

A card reader 85 is fastened to the undersurface of shelving 58 andincludes an alarm 86 and an instruction light 87. This card readerserves all of the displayer scales located on its side of shelf displaystand 50, and is adapted to receive a customer identification card 88having machine language for identifying customers. Should an article belifted from one of the displayer scales without the insertion of anidentification card into the card reader, instruction light 87 willflash a signal requesting the insertion of an identification card andalarm 86 will sound to summon a clerk or attendant.

A bottle rack holder 26 is shown in FIG. 6 and consists of conventionalshelving that supports a displayer scale 89 on a lower shelf and adisplayer scale 90 on an upper shelf. These scales are of either thetype illustrated by the displayer scale 59 or by the displayer scale 71,and further include means for supporting a conventional soft drinkbottle case C in an upstanding position on the scale platform. Support91 extends upright from the rear edge of platform 89, and a clampingmember 92 is adjustably fixed to the upper portion of the support andfits about the sides of the bottle case C. Similarly, support 93 extendsupright from the back of platform 90 and a clamping member 94 isadjustably fixed to the upper portion of the support and fits about thesides of the bottle case C. Thus, the bottle cases C are supported onthe displayer scales in a position for receiving bottles returned byshoppers. A card reader 95 is fixed to the bottle rack holder andassociated with the displayer scales to receive the identification cardsof shoppers returning bottles so that credit can be given to theshoppers accounts for bottles returned as indicated by weight increaseson the displayer scale.

Since the displayer scales are used for vending a wide variety ofarticles varying in shape, size, weight and physical characteristics, itis necessary to adapt the scales to accommodate the articles displayed.One such modified form of displayer scale is shown in FIG. 7 fordisplaying light weight articles such as packets of Kool- Aid. Thatportion of the displayer scale including the scale platform is similarto displayer scale 59, previously described. A hook member 96 is fixedto the platform surface and extends in spaced relationship thereabove sothat packets P can be hung thereon. The strain gages supporting thisdisplayer scale have an accuracy in measuring weight changes to thenearest oneeighth oz., which is the weight of one packet of Kool- Aid.These strain gages have a rated accuracy such that they can accuratelymeasure one unit loss or gain within the range of from 0 to 500 units.

Another modification of a displayer scale is shown in FIG. 8 wherein thebasic scale portion is similar to displayer scale 59 and support racks97, 98 and 99 are mounted thereon for holding a mop 100, a squeegee101i, and a broom 102, respectively.

The refrigerator case 40 is shown in FIG. 9 having a support shelf 104mounted within the case by a plurality of connector rods 105 and 106that are secured to the shelf and extend into openings in the walls ofthe case. A basket 107 is supported on the shelf by a four pointsuspension utilizing contilever beams and strain gages in a mannersimilar to the support of displayer scale 59. Taking one corner astypical of the four supports, a half-spherical button 108 is fastened tothe shelf 104 and a cap 109 fits over the button. The cap is fixed tothe outermost end of a cantilever beam 110, that extends inward from thecap at one corner of the basket to an intermediate support 111, which isfixed to the bottom of the basket. A strain gage 112 (FIG. is attachedto the surface of the cantilever beam at a fixed distance from the capfor measuring deflection in the beam. Similar cantilever beams, supportsand strain gages are provided at the other corners of the basket and thestrain gages are connected in an electrical bridge circuit whichdetermines weight changes in the basket by the deflection of the fourcantilever beams. A card reader 112a is fitted in a side edge of therefrigerator case to receive identification cards of shoppers andthereby identify persons taking articles from the case.

FIG. 11 illustrates a modified form of displayer scale 113 suitable forsupporting heavy loads in the manner of dispensing stands 44, 45, 46,47, 48 and 49. This displayer scale includes a platform 114 havingdownwardly-tumed side edges. The platform is supported longitudinally bya channel 115 and another channel, not shown, and is transverselysupported by channels 116 and 117. Channel 116 rests upon a load cell118 below the intersection with channel 115 and a load cell 119 supportschannel 117 below the intersection of that channel with channell 15.Similar load cells are provided at the other two points of channelintersection, not shown, to provide a four point load cell support.These load cells are standard commercial items such as the Baldwin SR-4load cell manufactured by BLH Electronics, Inc. of Waltham, Mass. andare connected in an electrical bridge circuit to translate weightchanges on the platform into changes in voltage.

A four point support for displayer scales, using either load cells orcantilever beams and strain gages, is designed to permit accurate weightreadings regardless of the position of articles supported upon thedisplayer scale platform. The platform tends to deflect as a unit andthe weight readings are determined by the sum of deflections at the foursupport points so unequal platform loading has little effect upon theaccuracy of the weight reading.

Displayer scale weight sensitivity determines the minimum size of asingle article that can be detected by the scale and the maximum loadcapacity of the scale. Each scale must have a sensitivity adapted to fitthe articles of merchandise that it is intended to handle and thissensitivity is determined by the rated accuracy of the strain gagestogether with the stiffness characteristics of the cantilever beamsupports. Strain gages having a rated accuracy of one-fifth of 1 percentcan accurately measure one unit gain or loss in deflection anywherewithin a range of from 0 to 500 units, while the section modulus of thecantilever beam supports must be of a value that will provide ameasurable deflection for each unit of weight throughout that range anda maximum deflection for 500 units of less than the distance G, shown inFIG. 4.

When similar articles of uniform weight are displayed on a scale, thesensitivity of the scale must be sufficient to determine the number ofarticles removed. It is not necessary to determine exact weights. Manyarticles of merchandise come in random weights, such as produce andmeat, and in such cases the scales must determine the exact weight ofarticles removed. By limiting the maximum load on a scale and groupingthe articles for substantial weight similarity, satisfactory scalesensitivity can be achieved.

As described in the present invention, conventional store fixturessupport displayer scales that include means for supporting articles ofmerchandise in sales display positions such as platforms, racks, hooksor baskets and weight sensing means are connected to the article supportmeans for translating changes in weight on the article support meansinto voltage changes. These weight sensing means can be strain gagesattached to cantilever beam supports or load cells positioned ascompression members beneath the article support means. Load cells couldalso be used as tension members from which article support means wouldbe suspended. A card reader is associated with the weight sensing meansfor receiving customer identification cards and sensing indicia thereonto identify customers relative to changes in weight on the articlesupport means. Data processing equipment, which will subsequently bedescribed, is connected with the weight sensing means and the cardreader for recording weight changes associated with each customer andtabulating these data into an invoice when the customer completesshopping.

Turning to FIG. 1, displayer scales 120, 121, 122, 123 and 124 arearranged in a bank and associated with a card reader 125. An instructionlight 126 is associated with the card reader to signal a shopper toinsert an identification card into the card reader and an alarm 127 isassociated with the card reader to summon an attendant when articleshave been taken from the displayer scales without the insertion of ashoppers identification card. A bottle rack displayer scale 90 is withthe multiplexer to indicate when a shoppers identification card is putin use, while a check-out card reclaimer 20 is connected with themultiplexer and indicates when a card is returned from use.

The multiplexer 130 is a component of a combination unit that includesan amplifier 133 and a converter 134. The multiplexer is a high speedscanning device that scans the displayer scales and associated cardreaders to command a weight reading report once every second from everyscale in the store. Such scanning consists of sending an electricalpulse in sequential order to each displayer scale and card reader. Thepulses are modified by the strain gages and machine language on thecustomer identification cards to returnanalog signals. Analog signalsreceived by the multiplexer are amplified by the amplifier and thenchanged into digital machine language by the converter. Actual hardwaresuitable to form the combination unit includes wire-contact relays andgroup drives as manufactured by lNternational Business MachinesCorporation of New York, N.Y., hereinafter referred to as IBM;multiplexer switches as manufactured by Digital Equipment Corporationhereinafter referred to as DEC, and having item designation No. A121; anamplifier for analog input; a multiplex control and analog to digitalconverter as manufactured by DEC with item designation No. 'AFOl; a sixbit decoder; and a power supply.

A mini-computer 135 receives digital information i from the converter134 and contains in storage the identity numbers of all displayer scalesin the store along with weight report readings of the prior scan. Themini-computer compares the weight report readings received on thecurrent scan by subtracting the prior weight readings therefrom. Theamount of any net weight change detected along with the associatedshoppers identification card number and order position in scan toidentify the displayer scale are output from the mini-computer to astore control unit 136. A computer suitable for the mini-computer ismanufactured by DEC having item No. PDP-8l and should be combined with amemory extension and memory module manufactured by DEC having itemdesignation No. MC-8l.

Store control unit 136 receives the output from the mini-computer 135and checks to see that a valid shoppers identification card number isassociated with each net weight change on a displayer scale. If no cardnumber is associated with the net weight change, the store control unitactuates instruction light 126 notifying a shopper to insert anidentification card into the card reader 125 and sounds alarm 12'! untilan identification card has been inserted. A store attendant will besummoned by the alarm if a shopper does not insert an identificationcard and can insert a special store card to stop the alarm if no shopperis present. Any identification card number associated with a net weightchange will be compared with a list of cards in use, the numbers ofwhich are added to the list by the check-in card dispenser 18 andremoved therefrom by the check-out card reclaimer 20. If a card numberis detected by the store control unit which is not on the list of cardsin use,

the card would apparently be a counterfeit and the number of thedisplayer scale associated with the card reading is transmitted to anumerical article display directory 137, located at the cashiers stand.The cashier then notifies an attendant to check at the designateddisplayer scale.

The store control unit 136 is a computer of a type manufactured by DEChaving item designation No. PDP 8-5. This unit is connected with aData-Phone 138, a Bell System device, that is located at the store andpermits transmission of data over leased telephone channels to a secondData-Phone 139, located at a data center 140. A transmission control 141is connected with Data-Phone 139 and commands information in a datastorage buffer of the store control unit to be transmitted by Data-Phoneto the data center. A suitable transmission control is manufactured byIBM having item designation No. 2701.

Information transmitted by Data-Phone to the transmission control 141 isfed to a storage control 142 that can be of a type manufactured by IBMhaving item designation No. 2841. All weight change readings foridentified displayer scales are filed according to the associatedcustomer identification number in a disk file. In the event that aweight change has occurred without the insertion of a shoppersidentification card, such data is held temporarily in a data buffer fileuntil a shoppers card has been inserted and the identification numberreceived. Then the data is transferred from the buffer and filed byshoppers identification card number. Other components for storageinclude a disk storage drive 143, as manufactured by IBM having itemdesignation No. 2311, and disk packs 144 manufactured by IBM having itemdesignation No. 1316.

When a customer completes shopping, an identification card is insertedinto the check-out card reclaimer 20 and the card number is transmittedto the storage control 142. All data collected for that number is fedfrom the disk file through a control unit 145 to a central processor146. The control unit is of a type manufactured by IBM having itemdesignation No. 2821 and the central processor is a computer of a typemanufactured by IBM having item designation No. 360/40. This computer atthe data center can be time shared by the store or a group of storeswith non-real time data processing programs that would be interruptedmomentarily to process a customers account and then continue on at thepoint in the program where it left off.

A printer keyboard 147 enables an operator to feed information throughcontrol unit and into central processor 146, while card read punch 148enables an operator to read or punch information into punched cards. Asuitable printer keyboard is manufactured by IBM having item designationNo. 1052 and a card read punch that would be adaptable is manufacturedby IBM having item No. 2540. A line printer 149 is connected with thecontrol unit and central processor to print output therefrom at a rapidrate. Such a line printer is manufactured by IBM having item designationNo. 1403.

Printing terminals 150 are provided at the store and output from thecentral processor is transmitted by Data Phone thereto. Such printingterminals include a high speed electric typewriter that prints outinvoices at approximately characters per second, and include a datastorage buffer since the printing terminals can not maintain the pace ofdata output from the data center. Printing terminals of the type desiredare manufactured by IBM having item designation No. 1053 and a printingterminal control unit, also manufactured by IBM having item designationNo. 1051, is adapted to accommodate the printing terminals.

When the central processor 146 computes a customer's account, the firststep is to calculate the net weight change per displayer scale. This isnecessary since a customer may pick up and put down several items or maytake more than one. Held in memory by disk file is a numbercorresponding to each displayer scale along with its associated productselection description and price table listing the charges per unitsselected. The central processor calculates the charges for weightsremoved as per programmed instructions or as listed in a look-up table.Data stored by the product selection description file must beperiodically updated to reflect new item prices, introduction of new ordifferent products or rearrangement of stock.

The central processor 146 calculates the net weight changes for thedisplayer scales, the number of articles taken and the total price.Also, information is provided to calculate cumulative total prices,taxes, refunds and trading stamps. This information is then transmittedfor print-out at the printing terminals 150. Data output from the datacenter 140 to the store is also recorded in machine language at the datacenter and later processed on a non-real time basis to accomplish suchtasks as inventory control, automatic recording, store bookkeeping,sales analysis, and price optimization.

Bottle rack displayer scale 90 and card reader 95 operate in a mannersimilar to displayer scales and card readers described but, as customersreturn bottles to the bottle racks segregated for each type of bottle,net weight increases are detected and credit is given for the bottlesreturned. in a similar manner, stock clerks and vendors can replenishthe shelves of the displayer scales and receive credit for the netweight increases by identifying themselves with special stockreplenishment cards. Thus, the data center knows when and by whom thestock is replenished and has data regarding the sale of merchandise tocustomers which can be used for checking store inventory.

The automatic marketing system of the present invention includes certainsafeguards against shoplifting and manipulation to avoid payment forarticles taken. As previously described, the store control unit 136detects when no shopper's identification card has been inserted into acard reader 125 and a change in weight has occurred on an associateddisplayer scale. The store control unit then actuates instruction light126, notifying a shopper to insert an identification card into the cardreader, and sounds alarm 127 to summond an attendant. Should anidentification card be used which is not on a list of cards inuse, thestore control unit transmits data to identify the displayer scaleassociated with the unlisted card reading to a numerical article displaydirectory 137 at the cashier's stand. Then, the cashier notifies anattendant to check on the matter by inspecting the shopper'sidentification card. It is desirable to issue the identification cardsin random order to prevent estimating what cards might be in use.

To prevent a couple of shoppers from making purchases with two cards,putting the articles in one basket, and paying the cashier for only onecards charges, it is essential to issue one card to each person enteringthe store and receive one card from each person leaving the store.Entrance passageway 16 and exit passage 25 are restricted to a widththat limits passage to single file past the cashiers chair 24. Thecashier can thereby monitor shoppers entering and leaving to see thatcards have been properly issued and returned.

A further safeguard would be to provide a scale in the exit passage andweigh each loaded shopping cart to compare the total invoiced weight ofarticles selected with the weight of articles in the shopping cart.Articles not purchased in the store could be removed from the shoppingcart before weighing and if the scale weight of the articles remainingin the cart exceeded the total weight of invoiced items, an attendantcould check the articles remaining in the shopping cart.

Data input from the displayer scales could be analyzed to determine whenweight changes occur on the displayer scales that do not equal exactmultiples of the item weights. This would indicate if a rock or lessexpensive item were being substituted for a more expensive item. In suchinstances, the foreign object would probably hear finger prints toverify which shopper made the substitution. Furthermore, the data inputto the computer could be analyzed for suspicious activity such aspicking up and returning items. If a high priced article is handled andreturned by a customer whose account shows a prior purchase of a lowpriced article having the same weight, the computer could be programmedto print out a notice for the cashier to have the shopping cart checkedto see if the low priced article had been substituted for the highpriced article on the scale. 7

Other safeguards might include enclosing the merchandise behindtransparent covers which would open upon the insertion of a customer'sidentification cardinto an associated card reader and providingtelevision surveillance of the store. Observance by store employees andhonest customers would also make dishonest activities more difficult todisguise.

in order to reduce the total number of displayer scales required to'support merchandise in the store, more than one type of article could bedisplayed on the same displayer scale if the weights of each type ofarticle displayed are readily distinguishable. The computer storagewould contain data on the weights of each type of article displayed andcould identify the specific type of article by the change in weight onthe displayer scale.

Although the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention has been herein shown and described, it will be apparent thatmodification and variation may be made without departing from what isconsidered to be the subject matter of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic marketing system comprising a plurality of means forsupporting articles of merchandise in self service sales displaypositions; weight sensing means connected to each of said articlesupport means for translating changes in weight on said article supportmeans into electrical signals; detecting means associated with each ofsaid weight sensing means for l1 receiving customer identification meansand sensing indicia thereon to identify customers at the time articlesare placed on or removed from the associated article support means; anddata processing equipment connected with said weight sensing means andsaid detecting means for recording weight changes produced by articleplacement or removal by an identified customer and tabulating these datainto an invoice.

2. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, wherein eachof the weight sensing means has a sensitivity sufficient to determinewhen one article has been removed from a group of similar articles ofuniform weight within the load capacity of the associated articlesupport means.

3-. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, wherein eachof the weight sensing means has a sensitivity sufficient to determinethe actual weight of an article removed from a group of similar articlesof random weight within the load capacity of the associated articlesupport means.

4. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, wherein eachof said article support means in cludes at least one cantilever beamthat carries the load of articles of merchandise supported, and each ofsaid weight sensing means includes a strain gage attached to thecantilever beam.

5, An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, wherein eachof said article support means includes a platform for supportingarticles of merchandise, said platform having a downwardly turnedperipheral edge, a shelf positioned beneath said platform, cantileverbeams for suspending said platform above said shelf, and each of saidweight sensing means including strain gages attached to the cantileverbeams, said downwardly turned peripheral edge of the platform beingspaced above the shelf when no articles are on the platform by adistance equal to a deflection within the elastic limit of thecantilever beams.

6. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1 wherein saidcustomer identification means comprises a card and each of saiddetecting means comprises a card reader, said system further including adispenser for distributing an identification card to each customer andindicating to said data processing equipment when each identificationcard is issued; and a reclaimer for receiving the identification cardfrom each customer upon completion of shopping and signaling said dataprocessing equipment to prepare an invoice for the customer.

7. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, including analarm operatively associated with each of the weight sensing means andits associated de tecting means to indicate when an article ofmerchandise has been lifted from the article support means without acustomer identification means having been received by the detectingmeans.

8. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 6, includingsignal means for indicating that a counterfeit customer-identificationcard is in use when said data processing equipment detects a card in usewithout a record of the card having been issued.

9. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, includingmeans supporting a bottle rack; weight sensing means connected to thebottle rack supporting means for translating changes in weight intoelectrical signals; detecting means associated with said bottle racksupporting means for receiving said customer identification means andsensing indicia thereon to identify particular customers; said weightsensing means and said detecting means associated with said bottle rackbeing connected to said data processing equipment whereby credit isgiven to a customers account for bottles inserted into the bottle rack.

10. A method of marketing merchandise comprising the steps of displayinglike articles for sale in groups supported by weight-sensitive electrictransducers; identifying each customer selecting articles from eachgroup by customer identification means; rapidly scanning in sequentialorder each weight-sensitive electric transducer and any customeridentification means associated therewith; comparing readings receivedon a current scan with readings received on a prior scan to provide thedata required to determine the number of articles removed from eachgroup and the identification of customers removing the articles; storingdata of articles removed by each identified customer in the memory of acomputer; storing price information relative to articles of each groupin the memory of the computer; calculating charges for the number ofarticles removed from each group and the total charge for all articlesremoved by each identified customer; and printing each customers invoicein accordance with output data from the computer.

1 l. The method of marketing merchandise according to claim 11 whereinmore than one group of like articles are supported by the sameweight-sensitive electric transducer and the articles of each group arereadily distinguishable by weight; and identifying the specific articleremoved by detecting the weight changes on the weight-sensitive electrictransducer.

12. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1 wherein saiddata processing equipment includes means for periodically scanning eachof said weight sensing means for an analog signal; means for convertingsaid analog signals into digital machine language; means for comparingsignals received on a current scan with signals received on a prior scanto determine thenumber of articles removed from the article supportmeans and any customer identification means associated therewith; meansfor storing data of articles removed by each identified customer; meansfor storing price information relative to the articles; means forcalculating charges for the number of articles removed by eachidentified customer and means for printing each customer's invoice.

# i t t I

1. An automatic marketing system comprising a plurality of means forsupporting articles of merchandise in self service sales displaypositions; weight sensing means connected to each of said articlesupport means for translating changes in weight on said article supportmeans into electrical signals; detecting means associated with each ofsaid weight sensing means for receiving customer identification meansand sensing indicia thereon to identify customers at the time articlesare placed on or removed from the associated article support means; anddata processing equipment connected with said weight sensing means andsaid detecting means for recording weight changes produced by articleplacement or removal by an identified customer and tabulating these datainto an invoice.
 1. An automatic marketing system comprising a pluralityof means for supporting articles of merchandise in self service salesdisplay positions; weight sensing means connected to each of saidarticle support means for translating changes in weight on said articlesupport means into electrical signals; detecting means associated witheach of said weight sensing means for receiving customer identificationmeans and sensing indicia thereon to identify customers at the timearticles are placed on or removed from the associated article supportmeans; and data processing equipment connected with said weight sensingmeans and said detecting means for recording weight changes produced byarticle placement or removal by an identified customer and tabulatingthese data into an invoice.
 2. An automatic marketing system asdescribed in claim 1, wherein each of the weight sensing means has asensitivity sufficient to determine when one article has been removedfrom a group of similar articles of uniform weight within the loadcapacity of the associated article support means.
 3. An automaticmarketing system as described in claim 1, wherein each of the weightsensing means has a sensitivity sufficient to determine the actualweight of an article removed from a group of similar articles of randomweight within the load capacity of the associateD article support means.4. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, wherein eachof said article support means includes at least one cantilever beam thatcarries the load of articles of merchandise supported, and each of saidweight sensing means includes a strain gage attached to the cantileverbeam.
 5. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1, whereineach of said article support means includes a platform for supportingarticles of merchandise, said platform having a downwardly turnedperipheral edge, a shelf positioned beneath said platform, cantileverbeams for suspending said platform above said shelf, and each of saidweight sensing means including strain gages attached to the cantileverbeams, said downwardly turned peripheral edge of the platform beingspaced above the shelf when no articles are on the platform by adistance equal to a deflection within the elastic limit of thecantilever beams.
 6. An automatic marketing system as described in claim1 wherein said customer identification means comprises a card and eachof said detecting means comprises a card reader, said system furtherincluding a dispenser for distributing an identification card to eachcustomer and indicating to said data processing equipment when eachidentification card is issued; and a reclaimer for receiving theidentification card from each customer upon completion of shopping andsignaling said data processing equipment to prepare an invoice for thecustomer.
 7. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1,including an alarm operatively associated with each of the weightsensing means and its associated detecting means to indicate when anarticle of merchandise has been lifted from the article support meanswithout a customer identification means having been received by thedetecting means.
 8. An automatic marketing system as described in claim6, including signal means for indicating that a counterfeitcustomer-identification card is in use when said data processingequipment detects a card in use without a record of the card having beenissued.
 9. An automatic marketing system as described in claim 1,including means supporting a bottle rack; weight sensing means connectedto the bottle rack supporting means for translating changes in weightinto electrical signals; detecting means associated with said bottlerack supporting means for receiving said customer identification meansand sensing indicia thereon to identify particular customers; saidweight sensing means and said detecting means associated with saidbottle rack being connected to said data processing equipment wherebycredit is given to a customer''s account for bottles inserted into thebottle rack.
 10. A method of marketing merchandise comprising the stepsof displaying like articles for sale in groups supported byweight-sensitive electric transducers; identifying each customerselecting articles from each group by customer identification means;rapidly scanning in sequential order each weight-sensitive electrictransducer and any customer identification means associated therewith;comparing readings received on a current scan with readings received ona prior scan to provide the data required to determine the number ofarticles removed from each group and the identification of customersremoving the articles; storing data of articles removed by eachidentified customer in the memory of a computer; storing priceinformation relative to articles of each group in the memory of thecomputer; calculating charges for the number of articles removed fromeach group and the total charge for all articles removed by eachidentified customer; and printing each customer''s invoice in accordancewith output data from the computer.
 11. The method of marketingmerchandise according to claim 11 wherein more than one group of likearticles are supported by the same weight-sensitive electric transducerand the articles of each group are readily distinguishable by weight;and identifying The specific article removed by detecting the weightchanges on the weight-sensitive electric transducer.